'''Prostitution''' is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment, most frequently [[Currency|coin]]. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a '''prostitute''' but is also known in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels by the term whore. Prostitutes who follow an army are known as '''camp followers''',{{ref|AGOT|62}}{{ref|ADWD|37}} and some are politely grouped with serving '''washerwomen'''.{{ref|ADWD|37}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} If af camp follower attaches herself to a single man for the duration of a campaign she is referred to as a '''camp bride'''.{{ref|ADWD|37}}

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'''Prostitution''' is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment, most frequently [[Currency|coin]]. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a '''prostitute''' but is also known in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels by the term whore. Prostitutes who follow an army are known as '''camp followers''',{{ref|AGOT|62}}{{ref|ADWD|37}} and some are politely grouped with serving '''washerwomen'''.{{ref|ADWD|37}}{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}} If a camp follower attaches herself to a single man for the duration of a campaign she is referred to as a '''camp bride'''.{{ref|ADWD|37}}

Revision as of 05:45, 29 July 2016

Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment, most frequently coin. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute but is also known in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by the term whore. Prostitutes who follow an army are known as camp followers,[1][2] and some are politely grouped with serving washerwomen.[2][3] If a camp follower attaches herself to a single man for the duration of a campaign she is referred to as a camp bride.[2]

Some prostitutes cater to highly exclusive clientele, make a good enough living, and may to a certain extent pick and choose their clientele. Others take who they can get and do whatever they have to in order to survive, often living miserable lives. Many prostitutes in Essos are enslaved.

Prostitutes in Westeros

Prostitutes are normally on the bottom rung of the societal ladder, even the wealthier ones, and are looked down upon by most people because of their trade. Tywin Lannister is well known for his disdain of whores and those who take advantage of their services.{[ref|ASOS|4}} It is considered dishonorable for a nobleman to openly frequent whores and brothels, hence the secret passageway that runs from Chataya's brothel in King's Landing to a nearby stable. Despite these attitudes, Westeros teems with brothels and whores.

Attitudes about sexuality are more relaxed in Dorne,[5] such as acceptance of paramours, so the view of Dornishmen toward prostitutes may be more liberal.

Some brothels in Westeros cater to more exclusive clientele, such as Chataya's. In contrast, the Lazy Eel is renowned for offering some of the oldest whores in White Harbor.[6]Oldtown has unsavory black brothels.[7]

On Maiden's Day maidens of noble houses are required to go to the sept to light tall white candles at the Maiden's feet and hang parchment garlands about her neck. Mothers, whores, and widows are barred from the sept along with men.[8] A virgin prostitute's maidenhead can cost a golden dragon.[7]

Female whores feature most in Westeros, but it is mentioned that Satin was a boy-whore in Oldtown before joining the Night's Watch,[9] and the whore Hother "Whoresbane" Umber disemboweled in Oldtown was a man.[10]

Whores in Essos

In the Free Cities and other places in Essos, the attitude towards prostitution is different, and there appears to be less ignominy in engaging the services of a whore. This may be because many of the Free Cities practice slavery and where there is slavery there will be sexual abuse and exploitation. Slaves who are whores have tears tattooed beneath their right eyes.[11][12]

The practice of slavery has created a thriving business in trained male and female bed-slaves, particularly from Lys,[13] whose pillow houses and pleasure gardens are famous.[14] Whether all enslaved whores are also trained bed-slaves is unlikely. Many slaves are forced into prostitution during childhood. Most have little or no hope of escaping this way of life, aside from suicide, and are crushed by the abuse and despair they endure.[11]

In Braavos there are no slaves, so all the prostitutes are free. However, there are three classes of prostitutes on Braavos: the highly esteemed professional courtesans; whores kept in a brothel; and the lowest street-walking dockside whores. Braavosi courtesans enjoy high status and are renowned worldwide.[16]

History

King Baelor I Targaryen attempted to outlaw prostitution in King's Landing, resulting in at least a thousand women and children sent from the capital.[19] King Aegon IV Targaryen slept with all types of women, including princesses and whores.[20]

A Clash of Kings

A Storm of Swords

The dwarf's penny is a tax imposed on prostitution in King's Landing.[26] When Tyrion is on trial for the death of King Joffrey I Baratheon, Shae claims that she was forced to pleasure him.[27] After Ser Jaime Lannister releases his brother from the Red Keep's dungeon, Tyrion kills Shae after learning she had been sleeping with Tywin. Having also learned from Jaime that Tysha had not actually been a prostitute, Tyrion kills Tywin when his father says Tysha went "wherever whores go".[28]

Washerwoman. That was the polite way of saying camp follower, which was the polite way of saying whore.
Where they came from Theon could not say. They just seemed to appear, like maggots on a corpse or ravens after a battle. Every army drew them. Some were hardened whores who could fuck twenty men in a night and drink them all blind. Others looked as innocent as maids, but that was just a trick of their trade. Some were camp brides, bound to soldiers they followed with words whispered to one god or another but doomed to be forgotten once the war was done. They would warm a man's bed by night, patch holes in his boots at morning, cook his supper come dusk, and loot his corpse after the battle. Some even did a bit of washing. With them, oft as not, came bastard children, wretched, filthy creatures born in one camp or the other.[2]